Percussion fuse for bombs and similar projectiles



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gi/59E.

: I I N 3mm/vbo@ A .'ayanz,

@PW/"M4 L.. sAvAlNl` Filed July 15. 1934 PERCUSSION FUSE FOR BOMBS AND SIMILAR PROJECTILES Dec. 1935. SAVANl 2,023,938

PERCUSSIN FUSE FOR BOMBS AND SIMILAR PROJECTILES Filed July l5, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 10, 1935 NITED STATES PERCUSSION FUSE FOR BOMBS vAND SIMILAR PROJECTILES Luigi Savani, Milan, Italy, assgnor to Societa Italiana Ernesto Breda per'Costruzioni Mec-V caniche, Milan, Italy Application July 13, 1934, serial No. '135,034

. In Italy Ju1y 14, 193s f 13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in or modification of the invention claimed in Letters Patent No. 1,826,190.

The above-mentioned patent relates to a per- 5 cussicn fuse for bombs and similar projectiles in which two heavy semispherical masses, preferably formed of an obnoxious or explosive materia-l, press, at the moment of impact, against plates which are opposite one another and which carry respectively the striker and the percussion cap and are held spaced apart by a spring and a safety device. This safety device comprises a slide slidably mounted between the two disc's and hinged at one end to a cowl covering the dome of the bomb. The other end of the cowl is detachably connected to the dome of the bomb by means of a pin which can be disengaged and removed by hand shortly before throwing the bomb.

This device operates effectively in the case of bombs which are thrown by hand; When, however, the fuse is to be applied to projectiles which are adapted to be thrown by explosion, various disadvantages may arise. In fact the projectile still has to be handled for some time after the safety device has been removed and this mayV lead to an explosion. The invention has for its subject modifications in the safety device which, while enabling the hand to be removed if necessary, permits its release to be effected automatically at the moment of throwing by explosion. The fuse according to the present invention is provided with an annular heavy mass which embraces the body of the fuse. Normally, the annular mass is held in a position to retain the safety device in its safety position and is adapted to be shifted to release the safety device due to the action of inertia when the bomb is projected.

The annular mass may be provided with a projection which normally engages a pin connected to the cowl or with a pin engaging an eye on the cowl. In either case the mass is shifted by inertia to a disengaging position. Y Y The accompanying drawings show by way of example and not in a limiting sense, three different forms of construction.

Figure 1 is an axial sectional view of a device according to the present invention with the safety device in safety position.

' Fig, 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the safety device in disengaged position.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectionalV view taken on line Y A-B of Fig. 1. v Figs. 4 and 5 are views corresponding to Figs.

(01.102-39) Y r Y V 1 and 2,.illustrating a modified form of my invention'.

Figs. 6 and 7 are views corresponding toFigs. 1 and 2, illustrating a further modified form of my invention. '5'

In each of the forms ofconstruction shown there Vare provided, asin the above mentioned patent, two discs I, 2, which respectively carry the firing pin 3 and the detonator cap 4, which are spaced apart by the spring 5 and which can 10 be pushed one against the other bythe semisphericaljmasses 6, 'I. A slide 8 is interposed between the two discs I, 2 and prevents the approach uniil the cowl 9, which is hinged to the said slide at l0, is disengaged from a suitable l5 catch which is suitably .located on the edge of the cowl diametrically opposite to the hinge I0, which'cowl ies off under the action of the wind.

. Also in each of the forms of construction shown thereis'provided ,an annular mass II Ywhich is 20 held by frangible members 2 in a position advanced towards the safety slide and which is provided with suitable means for holding the said safety device in position. At the moment of throwing by explosion, the said annular mass 25 recoils under'theaction of inertia from the posi` tion shown in Figs. 1, Lland 6 to that shown in Figs. 2, 5'and`7, the members 2,' -being easily broken or deformed by the action of inertia on the annular mass. The safety device isV thus 30 free, so that the cowl 9 opens as the projectile is moved through the air and removes the spacing slide 8 thus placing the projectile into a condition for exploding. V

In the form of construction shown in Figs. 1 to 35 3 the locking member is formed by a pin I2 corresponding to the pin, which is releasable and removable by hand, in the aforementioned patent.Y The projection I3 of the annular mass I I prevents the pin I 2 from passing out of the slot 40 I4 provided in the body I5 of the bomb as long V as the said mass hasV not recoiled. After recoil the pin is disengaged fromthe fuse remaining attachedgto the cowl. 'Ihis opens and drops oir with the slide. -This arrangement enables 45 the projectile provided with this fuse to be used for Vthrowing'rby hand or by explosion. When, however, the projectile is only to be thrown by explosion, the construction of the fuse Ymay be i simplified byomitting the pin I2 and engaging 50 a pin It,V secured to the Vannular mass II, with an eye I'I secured to the cowl 9 as shown in Figs. 4 yand 5. vThis cowl may alsoy beL provided with a wing I8, hinged `atVV I 9,'as shown in Figs.V 6 land 7 for the purpose offacilitating the disengagement 55 when the fuse is applied to projectiles thrown by rifled arms in such a manner that they also receive a rotary movement. In these cases centrifugalforce commences the disengagement of the cowl by opening the wing I8. It will, however, be understood that other known devices may be used for ensuring that the explosion of the projectile can only take place .at :a sufcient distance from the throwing arm.

What I claim is:

1. In a projectile fuse, the vcombination comprising a detonator cap and a -rng pin mounted for relative movement longitudinally of the fuse, safety means removably mounted in said fuse for preventing contact between the firing pin and detonator cap, means on the fuse removable by impingement of the air through which the projectile moves in flight for retaining and removing the safety means, and inertia responsive means for locking the air impinged means against removal.

2. In a projectile fuse, the combination .comprising a detonator cap .and Va Vfiring pin mounted for relative movement longitudinally of the fuse, safety means removably mounted yin -said -fuse for preventing contact between the firing pin and detonator cap, means on the fuse removable by impingement rof the air through which the projectile moves in flight for retaining and removing the safety means, -inertia responsive means for locking the air `impinged means against removal, and frangible means adapted to break under the impact of -projection for retaining Vthe inertia responsive Ameans in locking position.

3. In a projectile fuse, the combination comprising a detonator cap and a firing 7pin mounted for relative movement longitudinally-of the fuse, safety means removably7 mounted in'said fuse for preventing contact between the .firing pin and detonator cap, air impinged means connected to the safety means vfor retaining the ,same in and removing it from the fuse, an inertia responsive body positioned in said fuse for movement longitudinally thereof, a manually removable safety pin extending through said air impinged means, a lugon :said body adapted when thebodyis rin its forward position to engage said :safety pin to retain Vthe air impinged means and safety means in assembled relation, and means normally retaining said body in a forward position.

4. In a projectile fuse, the combinationjcomprising a detonator cap Aand a firing-pin mounted for relative movement longitudinally'of Athe fuse, safety means removably mounted in said fuse for preventing contact between the firing -pin and detonator cap, air impinged means connected to the Vsafety means for retaining the same in and removing it from the fuse, :an inertia responsive body positioned in said fuse for movement longitudinally'thereof, a manually removable safety pin extending through said air impinged means, a flug on said `body adapted when the body is in its forward position to engage said safety pin to 'retain the airimpinged means and safety means in assembled relatior-i,I and' frangible means normally retaining Asaid bodyl in a forward position and adapted to break :under projection impact -to permit said body to move relatively to the fuse to move the lug Yout ofengagement with the safety pin.

5.1In a projectile fuse, the Vcombination-comprising a detonator cap and a -r-ing pin mounted for relative movement longitudinallyof `the fuse,V

safety meansV removably mountedin Vsaid Vfuse for preventing contact between the firing pin and detonator cap, air impinged means connected to the safety Vmeans for retaining the same in and removing it from the fuse, an inertia responsive body positioned in said fuse for movement longitudinally thereof, and means on said inertia body effective when the body is in its forward position for retaining the air impinged means in inoperative position.

6. In a projectile fuse, the combination com- 10 yprising a detonator cap and a ring pin mounted -for relative movement longitudinally of the fuse, safety means removably mounted in said fuse for preventing contact between the ring pin and detonator cap, air impinged means connected to l5 the safety means for retaining the same in and removing it from the fuse, an inertia responsive 'body positioned in said fuse for movement longitudinally thereof, means on said inertia body effective vwhen the body is in its forward position 20 for `retaining the air impinged means in inoperative position, and means frangible under projection impact for retaining said body in its forward position.

'7. In a projectile fuse, the combination com- 25 prising a-detonator `cap and a firing pin mounted for relative movement longitudinally of the fuse, safety means removably mounted in said fuse for .preventing contact between the firing pin and detonator cap, air impinged means con- 30 nected :to the safety means for retaining the same in and removing it from the fuse, an inertia responsive body positioned in said fuse for movement longitudinally thereof, means on said inertia body effective when the body is in its 35 forward 4position for retaining the air impinged means in inoperative position, and locking means :on said body for directly engaging the safety means when the body is in its forward position .to retain` the safety means in effective 4o ,y

position.

Y8.'In a projectile fuse, the combination comprisingadetonatorcap and aring pin mounted for relative movement longitudinally of the fuse, safety means removably mounted in said fusefor pre- 45 venting contact between the firing pin and detonator cap, air impinged means connected to the safety means for retaining the same in and removing it from the fusepan inertia responsive body positioned in said fuse for movement longitudinally thereof, means on said inertia body effective when the body is in its forward position for retaining the air impinged means in inoperative position, locking means onsaid body for directly engaging the safety means when the body is in its forward position to retain the safety means in effective position, and means frangible under projection impact for retaining said body in its forward position.

9. In a projectile fuse, the combination comprising a detonator capand a firing pin mounted for relative movement longitudinally of the fuse, safety means removably mounted in said fuse for preventing contact between the firing pin and detonator cap, air impinged means connected to the safety means for Vretaining the same in and removing it from the fuse, an inertia responsive body positioned in said fuse for movement longitudinally thereof, means on said inertia body effective when the body is in its forward position for retaining the air impinged means invinoperative position, and means operative uponrelease of the air impinged means for Vmoving it into a position to be impinged by the air through which the projectile passes. 75

10. In a projectile fuse, the combination comprising a detonator cap and a ring pin mounted for relative movement longitudinally of the fuse, safety means removably mounted in said fuse for preventing Contact between the firing pin and detonator cap, air impinged means connected to the safety means for retaining the same in and removing it from the fuse, an inertia responsive body positioned in said fuse for movement longitudinally thereof, means on said inertia body effectve when the body is in its forward position for retaining the air impinged means in inoperative position, means frangible under projection impact for retaining said body in its forward position, and means operative upon release of the air impinged means for moving it into a position to be impinged by the air through which the projectile passes. Y

11. In a projectile fuse, the combination comprising a casing, a detonator cap and a firing pin mounted for relative movement longitudinally of the fuse, a safety slide removably mounted in the casing for preventing contactbetween the ringpin and detonator cap, a cowl positioned on the exterior of said casing, means connecting one side of said cowl to said slide, detachable connecting means associated with the other side of the cowl, a heavy annular mass mounted in said casing Vand embracing said detonator cap, and a projection on said annular mass adapted to cooperate with said detachable connecting means to secure the same on the casing when the mass is in its normal position and adapted to release the same when the mass is retracted upon projection impact.

12. In a projectile fuse, the combination comprising a casing, a detonator cap and a tiring pin mounted Yfor relative movement longitudinally of the fuse, a safety slide removably mounted in the casing for preventing contact between the firing pin and detonator cap, a cowl positioned on the exterior of said casing, means connecting one side of said cowl to said slide, detachable connecting means associated with the other side 0f the cowl, a heavy annular mass mounted in said casing and embracing said detonator cap, a Yprojection on said annular mass adapted to cooperate with said detachable connecting means to secure the same on the casing when the mass is in its normal position and adapted to release the same when the mass is retracted upon projection impact, and frangible means adapted to break under projection impact for retaining said annular'mass in a position to scure the cowl to the casing.

13. In a projectile fuse, the combination comprising a casing, a detonator cap and a firing pin mounted for relative movementlongitudinally of the fuse, a safety slide removably mounted in the casing for preventing contact between the ring pin and detonator cap, a cowl positioned on the exterior of said casing, means connecting one side of said'cowl to said slide, a movable wing attached to the other side-of the cowl, detachable connecting means associated with said wing, a heavy annular mass mounted in said casing and embracing said detonator cap, and a projection on said annular mass adapted to cooperate with Ysaid detachable connecting means to secure the same on the casing when the mass is in its normalfposition and adapted to release the same when the mass is retracted upon projection impact.

LUIGI SAVANI. 

